Redhawks top 100 points in OVC-opening victory

~ Southeast men hit triple digits in conference opener, win 102-95 at home over Tennessee St.

Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach Scott Edgar said before the season that he wanted to ramp up his fast and furious style even more this year.

The Redhawks were at their fastest and most furious Thursday night as they opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a 102-95 win over visiting Tennessee State.

Southeast broke the 100-point mark for the first time under Edgar, who is in his second season.

Thursday's output equaled the most points Southeast has scored since putting up 109 points against Troy State during the 1995-96 season.

Southeast Missouri State's Michael Rembert drove against Tennessee State's Dontrell Taylor during the first half Thursday at the Show Me Center. (Aaron Eisenhauer)

The 2001-02 Southeast team also netted 102 points, against Eastern Illinois.

"It was fast and furious. We played a team that could play fast and furious, too," said Edgar, whose squad improved to 5-4 overall. "Tennessee State never went away. I told their coach they're as good as anybody in the league."

The Tigers (2-5), who were also playing their first OVC contest, held several early leads but trailed for the game's final 34 minutes.

Southeast appeared on the verge of running TSU out of the Show Me Center several times -- the Redhawks led by 13 points in the first half and by 12 points several times in the final period -- but never could deliver the knockout blow.

"We knew they would keep coming back," sophomore forward Calvin Williams said. "We just kept hitting them. They made runs and we made runs right back."

SEMO's Brandon Foust throws up a shot over his shoulder during the first half of their game against Tennessee State on Thursday, December 6, 2007. (Aaron Eisenhauer)

Run was the operative word for the evening as the Redhawks and Tigers took turns scurrying up and down the court.

Sure, there were plenty of turnovers -- 23 by Southeast and 18 by TSU -- but also plenty of excitement.

"It was a great game," Edgar said.

Five players scored in double figures for the Redhawks, led by junior wing Jaycen Herring, as the junior college transfer had a season-high 21 points.

Herring, who is averaging 15 points over his last five games, scored 14 second-half points. He finished the night with six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

"Jaycen is really doing well," Edgar said.

Junior guard Kenard Moore, another juco transfer, had his best game at Southeast with a season-high 18 points off the bench.

Moore, seeing his most extensive action this year, played much of the second half, when he scored 15 points.

"I just had to get a rhythm," Moore said.

While Moore came to Southeast as a heralded 3-point shooter in junior college, he scored on several acrobatic drives to the basket against TSU.

"Kenard can make plays. He can get to the basket," Edgar said.

The 6-foot Moore even threw down one of the five dunks the high-flying Redhawks showcased Thursday. He smiled when asked about it.

"They talk about it in the locker room all the time. I feel left out," he said.

Williams, a transfer from Colorado who sat out last year under NCAA transfer rules, but practiced with the Redhawks, earned his third double-double at Southeast. He had season highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Williams, who scored 12 second-half points, accounted for two of the Redhawks' jams and also blocked three shots.

"Calvin keeps getting better and better," Edgar said.

Sophomore point guard Roderick Pearson, despite playing just one first-half minute after picking up two early fouls, finished with 15 points.

Senior forward Brandon Foust added 12 points, including a dunk. Sophomore guard Marcus Rhodes, who scored all eight of his points in the first half, had Southeast's other slam.

Southeast shot 61.3 percent in the second half (19-of-31) -- when it outscored TSU 61-56 -- and finished the game at 50.8 percent (33-of-65).

The Redhawks also got to the free-throw line a lot, hitting 30-of-44, including a solid 21-of-29 in the final period.

On the defensive end, Southeast held the OVC's top 3-point shooting team well below its average. TSU had been hitting 40.8 percent from beyond the arc, but managed to go just 9-of-34 (26.5 percent).

"That was one of the best stats of the night," Edgar said.

Despite all that, TSU had a 3-point attempt to tie the contest with just over a minute remaining. It missed and Southeast was able to close things out from the line. The Redhawks hit 11-of-12 free throws in the final minute, with Herring going 7-of-8.

"We had a lot of guys chip in," Edgar said. "I'm really happy for all of them."

Southeast hosts Tennessee Tech on Saturday night.